Weekend Trip
Belinda Harpster of St. Peter spent the weekend with her daughter, Mahala Harpster of Gray Summit, Mo.
On Saturday, they accompanied Mahala’s future mother-in-law, Donna Jacquin, to Kimmswick, Mo., to the “Witches Night Out” festival. They dined at the Blue Owl Restaurant that evening. On Sunday, the three attended the bridal expo at the Ameristar in St. Charles, Mo.
Baptism

Twenty-five members and five guests attended the Sept. 27 meeting and luncheon of the ExxonMobil Annuitants Club at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Vandalia.
The pledge of allegiance was followed by the meal blessing by LaVerne Laux.
After the meal, President Dean Black opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.
The secretary and treasurer reports were read and approved.
Birthdays and anniversaries for September were read. Madelon Fisher read an article, “Car Keys,” and Jo Fairley read, “Old Flame.”

An unusual Confederate memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, rain or shine, at Browning Cemetery in Shafter for Confederate soldier William Wilson, who fought in the Vicksburg, Miss., campaign.

Mr. and Mrs. David Hill of Vandalia will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sunday, Oct. 28.

The open house, hosted by their children, will be held from 2-4 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, located northwest of Vandalia on Ill. Route 185. The couple requests no gifts.
David Hill, son of the late Orville and Goldie Hill, and Esther Murphy, daughter of the late Willie and Mabel Murphy, were married on Oct. 20, 1962, at First Baptist Church in Ramsey.

Amber McNeely and Gabe Boatman have announced their engagement and upcoming marriage.

The future bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McNelly.
She is a 2008 graduate of Vandalia Community High School and is employed at United Stationers in Greenville.
The future groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Van Boatman.
He is a 2004 graduate of Vandalia Community High School and is employed at VanSeal in Vandalia.
The couple will be married in a 4 p.m. ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Crown Point Church in rural Vandalia.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Nave of Ramsey will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with a family gathering.

Joe Nave and Vivian Ulbricht were married on Oct. 19, 1947.
He is an Army veteran and is retired from Ramsey National Bank in Ramsey. She is a homemaker.
They are the parents of two daughters, Judy Roberts and Sharon Stanbery, both of Vandalia.
They have four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.